Republicans are unhappy that Democrats on the State Audit Committee blocked their effort to have the state auditor expand its financial probe of the Colorado Energy Office’s inability to track $252 million spent over the last six years.

Energy Office takes heat.

On Tuesday, Republicans on the committee wanted to allow the state auditor an additional eight hours of audit time to examine the Colorado Energy Office’s books. Democrats, who control the legislature, voted “no.”

The Audit Committee chair, Rep. Angela Williams, D-Denver, said she didn’t think it was necessary. When the audit was first released, she said the acting director, Kevin Patterson, owned up to the problems, promised to have them corrected by July 1 and to provide an update to the committee before the legislature adjourns in mid May.

“We did not have a department coming in and giving us lip service,” Williams said, adding she was impressed by Patterson.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.